Electric switch



Sept.- 18, 1934. J. l.. LAPPIN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 2l, 1933 Vig.Z..

Crpin, P'neg.

Inventor: John T... L.

y His Patented Sept. 18, 1934 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH John L.Lappin, Merchantvllle, N. General Electric Company, a

New York J., assignor to corporation of Application June 21, 1933,ASerial No. 676,867

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches and moreparticularly to improve-l ments in auxiliary electric switches which areused in conjunction with the operating mechanisms of electric powerswitches for controlling various auxiliary circuits, such as for examplethe energizing circuit of the operating mechanisms, in accordance withthe particular circuit controlling positions of the power switchesthemselves.

When power switches are electrically operated, it is usually necessarythat the energization of the operating mechanism be positively effectedY and concluded at critical points of the operating cycle in order toinsure positive switch closure and free opening without damage to theparts. Moreover, the operating mechanism may draw a relatively heavycurrent which tends to maintain an arc unless the interruption isquickly and eiectively made. In accordance with these requirements, anobject of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch wherebya circuit controlling operation is quickly performed in response to adenite travel of the part to be controlled. Another object is to providean improved switch whereby the control will be automatically changed toprovide for the reverse movement of the controlled part.

My invention will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan View partially in sectionof an electric switch embodying my invention; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sideelevations of the switch shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 showing the switchclosed, Fig. 3 just about to open and Fig.`4 open; and Fig. 5illustrates a modication of a part of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention is an auxiliary electricswitch for use in conjunction with circuit breakers and the like. Asshown, the switch includes a circuit controlling -member 5 which ismovable to a plurality of positions and means including an operatingmember 6 for moving the circuit controlling member 5 rst in onedirection to one of said positions, shown for example in Fig. 2, andnext in the opposite direction to another of said positions, shown forexample in Fig. 4. For actuating the operating member 6 in accordancewith the position of a part or parts of the power switch to befcontrolled, this member may be rigidly secured 55 -in any suitablemanner to a shaft 7 which is,

(Cl. 20D-70) in turn, coupled to the power switch mechanism through acrank 8 also rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the shaft 7. Inthe particular arrangement shown the operating member 6 is slotted toreceive the attened end of the 60 shaft 7 and is secured thereto by ascrew 9. The shaft 7 is suitably journaled in a supporting plate 10which also serves to carry the rest of the switch parts and which may besuitably secured to the power switch structure, or otherwise as desired.Also, as shown, the circuit controlling member 5 is mounted on the shaft7 so as to rotate or turn freely thereon. The operating and circuitcontrolling members are, therefore, concentrically mounted.

In order to effect a quick movement of the circuit controlling member 5whereby to obtain a quick break, I provide means which is interposedbetween the operating and circuit controlling members 5 and 6 and inwhich energy is adapted 75 to be stored when the operating member ismoved in either direction. As shown, this means is of a resilient typeand includes springs 11 which are positioned between projections orabutments l2, 13 on the circuit controlling and operating 80 members,respectively, so that on movement of the operating member in onedirection, clockwise with reference to Fig. 2, the lower spring iscompressed as shown in Fig. 3, but on move- `ment in the oppositedirection counterclockwise with reference to Fig. 4, the upper spring iscompressed.

In order to prevent movement of the circuit controlling member 5 untilthe desired point in the cycle of operation has been reached and so asto obtain a quick break action, I provide means for preventing movementof the circuit controlling member 5 until one or the other of thesprings 11 has been suitably compressed and the proper point in theoperating cycle reached. As shown, this means includes latches 14, whichare so mounted that one or the other of them engages one of theshoulders of a projection 15 on the circuit controlling member 5 througha flange 16. The latches 14 may be pivotally mounted on 100 the plate 10for rotation into and out of latching position and they are biased tolatching position by any suitable resilient means such as a spring 17.

In order to release the engaged latch at the correct point in themovement of the operating member 6, this member may be provided with acam portion 18 which is arranged to engage suitable stubs 19 which maybe adjustably mounted on thelatches 14.

In order to limit the rotation of the circuit controlling member 5 ineither direction, suitably positioned stops 20 may be provided.

The particular type of contact construction which may be employed inelectric switches embodying my invention is more or less immaterial butI prefer to use anarrangement which provides something in the nature ofa high pressure point or line contact and a quick, satisfactory breakand at the same time avoids the necessity for ilexible leads, pig tailsand the like. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the switchis provided with suitably insulate-' i fixed contacts 21 which arearranged to be bridged by a suitably insulated roller type contact 22pivotally mounted on the free end of the circuit controlling member 5.The contact face of this roller may be convex', as shown in Fig. 1, inorder to provide a high pressure point or line contact. Suitableterminals 23 are associated with the stationary contacts 21.

Referring now to Fig. 2 which shows the circuit controlling member 5 inthe circuit closing position and assuming that movement of the crank 8occurs by reason of the operation of the mechanism with which theauxiliary switch is associated so as to turn the operating member 6clockwise, the lower spring 1l will be compressed to the position shownin Fig. 3 and this will produce a slight movement of the circuitcontrolling member 5 to effect a preliminary starting of the circuitcontrolling member and thereby to break up any tendency for contactsticking. Further movement of the member 5 will be prevented by reasonof the upper latch 14 engaging the upper shoulder of the projection 15on the circuit controlling member 5 until such time as the cam portion18 of the operating member 6 engages the stub 19 on the upper latch 14and moves it away from the shoulder. The lower spring 11 which is undercompression is then free to release its stored energy and will quicklysnap the circuit controlling member 5 to the open circuit position shownin Fig. 4.

In the event of contact sticking which the spring pressure cannot break,a positive starting of the circuit controlling member 5 can be obtainedby providing the operating member 6, as shown in Fig. 5,'with a lug 24which is arranged to engage the circuit controlling member 5 throughmeans adjustably positioned thereon such as the screw 25 at apredetermined point in the movement of the operating member. The means25 will be so adjusted as to be engaged by the lug 24 at the instant theupper latch 14 is released in the circuit opening movement.

The circuit closing operation is effected by a counterclockwise movementof the operating member 6 in response to a corresponding movement of theshaft '7. In this case the upper spring 11 is compressed and at acertain point in the movement the cam portion 18 of the operating member6 releases the lower latch 14 from the lower shoulder of the projection15 on the circuit controlling member 5 whereupon the energy in the upperspring 11 is released to snap the circuit controlling member 5 quicklyinto the position shown in Fig. 2 where the roller contact 22 bridgesthe stationary contacts 21.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

l. An electric switch including a movable circuit controlling member, acontact engageable thereby, means for moving said member out -ofengagement with said contact including an operating member, resilientmeans interposed between the operating member and the circuitcontrolling member for storing energy when the operating member isactuated, means for latching said circuit controlling member againstmovement including a latch engageable with said circuit controllingmember after a predetermined movement thereof whereby to provide aninitial starting movement of the circuit controlling member relativelyto its cooperating contact, means for biasing said latch to latchingposition, means for releasing said latch after a predetermined movementof the operating member whereby to release the energy stored in saidresilient means to edect movement of the circuit controlling member awayfrom said contact.

2. An electric switch including a movable circuit controlling member, acontact engageable thereby, means for moving said member out ofengagement with said contact including an operating member, resilientmeans interposed between the operating member and the circuitcontrolling member for storing energy when the operating member isactuated, a latch engageable with said circuit controlling member, meansfor biasing said latch to latching position, means for releasing saidlatch after a predetermined movement of the operating member whereby torelease the energy stored in said resilient means to effect movement ofthe circuit controlling member away from said contact, and meansassociated with said operating member for positively starting saidcircuit controlling member immediately following the release of saidlatch.

3. An electric switch including a circuit controlling member movable toa plurality of positions, a contact engageable thereby in one of saidpositions, means for moving said member rst in one direction and next inthe opposite direction including an operating member movable in each ofsaid directions, resilient means interposed between the operating memberand the circuit controlling member for storing energy when the operatingmember is moved in either direction, a latch engageable with saidcircuit controlling member in one of the circuit controlling positionsthereof, another latch engageable with said circuit controlling memberafter a predetermined movement thereof in one direction whereby toprovide an initial starting movement of Y the circuit controlling memberrelatively to its cooperating contact, resilient means interconnectingsaid latches for biasing them to latching position, means for releasingthe engaged latch after a predetermined movement of the operating memberwhereby to release the energy stored in the resilient means between theoperating member and the circuit controlling member to eicct movement ofthe circuit controlling member from one position to another.

JOHN L. LAPPIN.

